That doesn't sound like BB doesn't think Cannon could play inside. Rather, it sounds like he thinks he's versatile to play both outside and inside, and he's used him where he currently has the greater need. The Pats value players with positional versatility, and can switch positoins based on need (see McCourty, Devin).

Whether Cannon stays at RT or moves inside probably depends on whether Vollmer is extended and how the draft falls. Extend Vollmer and get someone liek Kyle Long in the draft, and Cannon could move inside to guard. But if Vollmer leaves, then Cannon is likely to stay outside. But I think it's more a question of team need than of Cannon's ability to play either position.

While many folks have thought that Cannon would be an ideal OG, the Patriots seem to feel differently.

He got his first career start at RT, and has yet to play a single down at G.

Right now, I'm thinking that the Patriots taking Cannon was a brilliant move on their part: they get a guy with first/second round talent in the fifth round.

If Vollmer leaves in FA (e.g., someone pays him $$$$ to play LT), the Pats have a replacement.

If Vollmer stays, then they've got an outstanding third tackle for $ instead of $$$$ for two more years.

Not every gamble the Pats take pays off (see: Salas, Greg), but it's nice to know that the Patriots can make smart ones like this (and Alfonzo Dennard).

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If Vollmer leaves shouldn't even be a thought...he has been our Best Player along our OL when healthy...no knock on Nate Solder. That said the Jets is hardly a measuring stick for Marcus Cannon at Tackle...I would like to see him aganist a Cameron Wake or against DL's like the 49ers and Texans before i annoint him. I like Cannon but in the preseason and early in the year, Speed Rushers owned him. On Vollmer you just cannot Teach what he already have Great Size with Good feet to boot...i am sure his peers thinks very highly of him as should BB and Brady.

If Vollmer leaves shouldn't even be a thought...he has been our Best Player along our OL when healthy...no knock on Nate Solder. That said the Jets is hardly a measuring stick for Marcus Cannon at Tackle...I would like to see him aganist a Cameron Wake or against DL's like the 49ers and Texans before i annoint him. I like Cannon but in the preseason and early in the year, Speed Rushers owned him. On Vollmer you just cannot Teach what he already have Great Size with Good feet to boot...i am sure his peers thinks very highly of him as should BB and Brady.

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Guess you didn't watch the Miami game last year when Cannon started at RT with Solder at LT and they held Wake in check.

That doesn't sound like BB doesn't think Cannon could play inside. Rather, it sounds like he thinks he's versatile to play both outside and inside, and he's used him where he currently has the greater need. The Pats value players with positional versatility, and can switch positoins based on need (see McCourty, Devin).

Whether Cannon stays at RT or moves inside probably depends on whether Vollmer is extended and how the draft falls. Extend Vollmer and get someone liek Kyle Long in the draft, and Cannon could move inside to guard. But if Vollmer leaves, then Cannon is likely to stay outside. But I think it's more a question of team need than of Cannon's ability to play either position.

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Note that BB never says that he's had a "Marcus Cannon type of discussion". He just references that there has been one. Perhaps he's referencing the pundits and drafniks. Until Cannon actually plays a snap at OG, you have to think the Pats have him pegged as a tackle. Did Cannon even play at OG in pre-season at any time?

Note that BB never says that he's had a "Marcus Cannon type of discussion". He just references that there has been one. Perhaps he's referencing the pundits and drafniks. Until Cannon actually plays a snap at OG, you have to think the Pats have him pegged as a tackle. Did Cannon even play at OG in pre-season at any time?

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I don't see the need to think that at all. The Pats have had a surplus of guards compared to tackles. Logan Mankins had to play LT at times last season. Nick McDonald had to play tackle at times this pre-season. Robert Gallery played both tackle and guard at times in the pre-season. They've had to move guys who were pegged as guards to fill in at tackle because of depth - not the other way around. I think that the Pats have played Cannon at tackle because of the need for depth at that position, not because they don't think he can play guard.

If Vollmer leaves shouldn't even be a thought...he has been our Best Player along our OL when healthy...no knock on Nate Solder. That said the Jets is hardly a measuring stick for Marcus Cannon at Tackle...I would like to see him aganist a Cameron Wake or against DL's like the 49ers and Texans before i annoint him. I like Cannon but in the preseason and early in the year, Speed Rushers owned him......

I loved Cannon coming out of college, I thought he was a late 1st round talent before the cancer diagnosis. I had him listed as our 2nd round pick in our draft contest. Fortunately for Marcus and the Patriots they discovered the cancer at the Combine. This dropped Cannon off a lot of NFL Teams draft boards and others dropped him very low. The Patriots could afford to take the gamble on Cannon and now they are seeing the fruits of that gamble. In a way Alfonzo Dennard, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Ryan Mallett and Brandon Tate were similar Risk / Reward situations. It appears that Tate is the only one that didn't work out.

with the elevation of the pats running game, a guy like cannon at RT gives opponents something to think about and it becomes about alot more than just pass pro. the notion of the running game forces the defense to hesitate on the pass rush......

cannon is a fantastic player and can literally play 4 spots on the line.

I don't see the need to think that at all. The Pats have had a surplus of guards compared to tackles. Logan Mankins had to play LT at times last season. Nick McDonald had to play tackle at times this pre-season. Robert Gallery played both tackle and guard at times in the pre-season. They've had to move guys who were pegged as guards to fill in at tackle because of depth - not the other way around. I think that the Pats have played Cannon at tackle because of the need for depth at that position, not because they don't think he can play guard.

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Interestingly all those players played tackle at the college level. I would expect most NFL linemen played tackle at the college level. What I'm trying to say here is that what you're saying is that the Pats have a surplus of offensive tackles who can't play tackle at an NFL level. As BB might say, that's true of a lot of teams.

I think the Pats have played Cannon at tackle because if you have a guy who can play tackle you play him there, unless you have a logjam at that position and/or a loose screen door elsewhere on the line.

People thinking Cannon is a guard are just out thinking themselves. Most guards in the NFL were tackles in college. Look no further than our own Logan Mankins. Of course Cannon could play Guard as well. But he has the ability to play tackle which is a more premium position.

I think the Pats should try to lock Vollmer up for several more years. Dude is playing great football and is still young.

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I love Vollmer and would wish for the Pats to re-sign him and keep him for many more years but it seems like he is ALWAYS hurt....If it's not one thing then it's another....I am just not sold that he will be worth the money if he plays less than 10 games in season.....If he can stay healthy then I say go for it but he hasn't shown that he can yet.....I would say try to re-sign him with reasonable $ and or put an injury clause in his contract so it wouldn't be as hard to swallow if he gets hurt....

Nuts. If that were true, that a player of NFL starting caliber at one, if not two positions were a just a little above average for a 5th round draft pick, there would be no veterans left in the league.